50-state knowledge-test language finder
DMV Written Test Languages by State (2026)
Last UpdatedJuly 26, 2026State guide facts, source links, and DMV-day reminders are reviewed for learner permit prep.
Find published knowledge-test languages, audio or oral options, interpreter rules, and traffic-sign language notes for an ordinary noncommercial learner permit.
Quick answer
Many states translate the written test, but the options are not nationwide
16 states in this comparison publish a specific multilingual menu. Other states publish only English and Spanish, provide an oral or interpreter route, or ask applicants to confirm language availability with the testing office.
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Check your written-test language route
Select a state for a focused summary, then use the official source before booking or starting the exam.
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Permit test languages, audio, and interpreter rules by state
Ordinary noncommercial learner-permit or Class D/Class C knowledge tests. CDL, motorcycle, renewal eLearning, and road tests can use different language rules. Availability can change by office, vendor, applicant type, or exam route. Checked July 26, 2026.
| State | Availability | Published languages | Audio or oral option | Interpreter or accommodation | Traffic-sign note | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama AL | Confirm before testing | The reviewed Alabama licensing source does not publish one complete current noncommercial knowledge-test language list. | Ask the testing office whether audio, oral, or reader-assisted testing is available for your appointment. | Do not bring an interpreter into the test without approval; request language or disability assistance before the visit. | A translated handbook does not guarantee the live test is offered in the same language. | Check Alabama source |
| Alaska AK | Confirm before testing | The reviewed Alaska licensing source does not publish one complete current noncommercial knowledge-test language list. | Ask the testing office whether audio, oral, or reader-assisted testing is available for your appointment. | Do not bring an interpreter into the test without approval; request language or disability assistance before the visit. | A translated handbook does not guarantee the live test is offered in the same language. | Check Alaska source |
| Arizona AZ | 11 published languages | English, German, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Italian, French, Tagalog, and Korean | In-office computer testing includes an audio version. | A verbal test may be scheduled when a written translation is unavailable or the applicant cannot read. | Road-test directions and traffic-sign understanding still use English-based instructions. | Check Arizona source |
| Arkansas AR | Confirm before testing | The reviewed Arkansas licensing source does not publish one complete current noncommercial knowledge-test language list. | Ask the testing office whether audio, oral, or reader-assisted testing is available for your appointment. | Do not bring an interpreter into the test without approval; request language or disability assistance before the visit. | A translated handbook does not guarantee the live test is offered in the same language. | Check Arkansas source |
| California CA | Many languages | California DMV says in-person knowledge testing is offered in English and many other languages; its monitored at-home test has been offered in 35 languages. | The renewal eLearning route has its own smaller language/audio menu, so do not assume it matches the knowledge-test menu. | Ask DMV which language and format appear in your application path before choosing an office or online route. | A foreign-language written test can include a separate traffic-signs test. | Check California source |
| Colorado CO | English and Spanish | English and Spanish | The testing application can read the exam aloud in English or Spanish. | For another spoken language, the applicant may provide a translator; Colorado separately provides ASL and ADA accommodation routes. | At-home and office test formats use the same English/Spanish language baseline. | Check Colorado source |
| Connecticut CT | Confirm before testing | The reviewed Connecticut licensing source does not publish one complete current noncommercial knowledge-test language list. | Ask the testing office whether audio, oral, or reader-assisted testing is available for your appointment. | Do not bring an interpreter into the test without approval; request language or disability assistance before the visit. | A translated handbook does not guarantee the live test is offered in the same language. | Check Connecticut source |
| Delaware DE | Confirm before testing | The reviewed Delaware licensing source does not publish one complete current noncommercial knowledge-test language list. | Ask the testing office whether audio, oral, or reader-assisted testing is available for your appointment. | Do not bring an interpreter into the test without approval; request language or disability assistance before the visit. | A translated handbook does not guarantee the live test is offered in the same language. | Check Delaware source |
| Florida FL | Published examples; confirm route | English and Spanish are documented in current state materials; FLHSMV also documented Chinese written/audio Class E testing. Confirm the current menu with the office or approved provider. | Chinese written/audio testing is documented, but a complete current statewide audio menu is not published on the reviewed public page. | Language-interpreter rules can differ between the knowledge test and the road test; ask the testing location before the appointment. | The Class E exam includes traffic-control identification. | Check Florida source |
| Georgia GA | 26 published languages | English, Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Burmese, Chinese, Dari, Farsi, French, German, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Pashto, Portuguese (Brazil), Rohingya, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, Turkish, Urdu, Vietnamese, Wolof, and Yoruba | Customers with reading disabilities can request an oral test; schedules vary by customer service center. | Georgia DDS schedules interpreters for hearing-impaired customers through a customer service center. | Applicants must still read and understand simple English used on highway traffic and directional signs. | Check Georgia source |
| Hawaii HI | Confirm before testing | The reviewed Hawaii licensing source does not publish one complete current noncommercial knowledge-test language list. | Ask the testing office whether audio, oral, or reader-assisted testing is available for your appointment. | Do not bring an interpreter into the test without approval; request language or disability assistance before the visit. | A translated handbook does not guarantee the live test is offered in the same language. | Check Hawaii source |
| Idaho ID | Confirm before testing | The reviewed Idaho licensing source does not publish one complete current noncommercial knowledge-test language list. | Ask the testing office whether audio, oral, or reader-assisted testing is available for your appointment. | Do not bring an interpreter into the test without approval; request language or disability assistance before the visit. | A translated handbook does not guarantee the live test is offered in the same language. | Check Idaho source |
| Illinois IL | Languages based on demand | Illinois rules allow English and other languages selected by the Secretary of State based on identifiable demand; the public source does not publish one complete current statewide list. | An applicant who cannot read may receive an oral test. | A facility may provide or recommend an interpreter, or the applicant may need to arrange one when an available written language does not work. | Applicants still must read and understand official traffic-control devices. | Check Illinois source |
| Indiana IN | 19 published languages | Arabic, Burmese, Chin, Croatian, French, German, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin (Simplified Chinese), Polish, Punjabi, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog, and Vietnamese | ASL is handled through a scheduled translator appointment rather than the ordinary language list. | Call Indiana BMV in advance for an ASL translator; the appointment cannot be taken the same day it is scheduled. | The exam has separate traffic-maneuver and traffic-sign sections, and both require 80%. | Check Indiana source |
| Iowa IA | Confirm before testing | The reviewed Iowa licensing source does not publish one complete current noncommercial knowledge-test language list. | Ask the testing office whether audio, oral, or reader-assisted testing is available for your appointment. | Do not bring an interpreter into the test without approval; request language or disability assistance before the visit. | A translated handbook does not guarantee the live test is offered in the same language. | Check Iowa source |
| Kansas KS | Confirm before testing | The reviewed Kansas licensing source does not publish one complete current noncommercial knowledge-test language list. | Ask the testing office whether audio, oral, or reader-assisted testing is available for your appointment. | Do not bring an interpreter into the test without approval; request language or disability assistance before the visit. | A translated handbook does not guarantee the live test is offered in the same language. | Check Kansas source |
| Kentucky KY | Confirm before testing | The reviewed Kentucky licensing source does not publish one complete current noncommercial knowledge-test language list. | Ask the testing office whether audio, oral, or reader-assisted testing is available for your appointment. | Do not bring an interpreter into the test without approval; request language or disability assistance before the visit. | A translated handbook does not guarantee the live test is offered in the same language. | Check Kentucky source |
| Louisiana LA | Confirm before testing | The reviewed Louisiana licensing source does not publish one complete current noncommercial knowledge-test language list. | Ask the testing office whether audio, oral, or reader-assisted testing is available for your appointment. | Do not bring an interpreter into the test without approval; request language or disability assistance before the visit. | A translated handbook does not guarantee the live test is offered in the same language. | Check Louisiana source |
| Maine ME | Confirm before testing | The reviewed Maine licensing source does not publish one complete current noncommercial knowledge-test language list. | Ask the testing office whether audio, oral, or reader-assisted testing is available for your appointment. | Do not bring an interpreter into the test without approval; request language or disability assistance before the visit. | A translated handbook does not guarantee the live test is offered in the same language. | Check Maine source |
| Maryland MD | 18 published options | English, Spanish, ASL, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese (Traditional), Farsi, French, Hindi, Korean, Nepali, Portuguese, Russian, Tagalog, Urdu, Vietnamese, and Yoruba | Oral tests are given in English by appointment with an MVA agent. | If MVA offers your language, you must attempt that version three times before using an interpreter. | The noncommercial Class C test is timed and includes the state knowledge-test material. | Check Maryland source |
| Massachusetts MA | 37 published languages | Albanian, ASL, Arabic, Armenian, Burmese, Cape Verdean Creole, English, Farsi, French, German, Greek, Gujarati, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Khmer/Cambodian, Kiswahili, Korean, Laotian, Mandarin (Simplified and Traditional), Nepali, Pashto, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, and Vietnamese | Audio is available in every listed Class D/M language, both online and on RMV testing stations. | A reader, extended time, or another reasonable accommodation can be requested for a cognitive or physical disability. | The permit exam includes road signs and rules of the road. | Check Massachusetts source |
| Michigan MI | 32 published languages | Albanian, Arabic, Chinese, Dari, English, Farsi, French, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Pashto, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, Bangla, Burmese, Chaldean, Karen, Kibembe, Kinyarwanda, Kirundi, Lao, Malay, Punjabi, Urdu, Romanian, and Swahili | Original driver knowledge exams are available in electronic, paper, or audio formats. | An approved interpreter or pre-authorized one-time volunteer may be used for a language not listed. | Operator and traffic-sign portions are separate parts of the Michigan knowledge test. | Check Michigan source |
| Minnesota MN | Oral/interpreter route | The reviewed Minnesota rule authorizes an interpreter route but does not publish one complete current statewide kiosk-language menu. | Ask Driver and Vehicle Services whether an audio or oral format is available for the appointment and test type. | A foreign-language interpreter must be commissioner-approved, is requested and paid for by the applicant, and may translate only authorized information. Minnesota arranges interpreters for applicants who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing upon request. | Minnesota examinations test the applicant's ability to read and understand highway signs; confirm how that portion is handled with an interpreter. | Check Minnesota source |
| Mississippi MS | Confirm before testing | The reviewed Mississippi licensing source does not publish one complete current noncommercial knowledge-test language list. | Ask the testing office whether audio, oral, or reader-assisted testing is available for your appointment. | Do not bring an interpreter into the test without approval; request language or disability assistance before the visit. | A translated handbook does not guarantee the live test is offered in the same language. | Check Mississippi source |
| Missouri MO | Confirm before testing | The reviewed Missouri licensing source does not publish one complete current noncommercial knowledge-test language list. | Ask the testing office whether audio, oral, or reader-assisted testing is available for your appointment. | Do not bring an interpreter into the test without approval; request language or disability assistance before the visit. | A translated handbook does not guarantee the live test is offered in the same language. | Check Missouri source |
| Montana MT | Confirm before testing | The reviewed Montana licensing source does not publish one complete current noncommercial knowledge-test language list. | Ask the testing office whether audio, oral, or reader-assisted testing is available for your appointment. | Do not bring an interpreter into the test without approval; request language or disability assistance before the visit. | A translated handbook does not guarantee the live test is offered in the same language. | Check Montana source |
| Nebraska NE | Confirm before testing | The reviewed Nebraska licensing source does not publish one complete current noncommercial knowledge-test language list. | Ask the testing office whether audio, oral, or reader-assisted testing is available for your appointment. | Do not bring an interpreter into the test without approval; request language or disability assistance before the visit. | A translated handbook does not guarantee the live test is offered in the same language. | Check Nebraska source |
| Nevada NV | Confirm before testing | The reviewed Nevada licensing source does not publish one complete current noncommercial knowledge-test language list. | Ask the testing office whether audio, oral, or reader-assisted testing is available for your appointment. | Do not bring an interpreter into the test without approval; request language or disability assistance before the visit. | A translated handbook does not guarantee the live test is offered in the same language. | Check Nevada source |
| New Hampshire NH | Confirm before testing | The reviewed New Hampshire licensing source does not publish one complete current noncommercial knowledge-test language list. | Ask the testing office whether audio, oral, or reader-assisted testing is available for your appointment. | Do not bring an interpreter into the test without approval; request language or disability assistance before the visit. | A translated handbook does not guarantee the live test is offered in the same language. | Check New Hampshire source |
| New Jersey NJ | 13 written languages | English, Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), French, Spanish, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, Hindi, Albanian, and Turkish | Oral tests are available in English and Spanish. | MVC can arrange and pay for a state-contract interpreter when the test is unavailable in the applicant's language; lead time is commonly four to six weeks. | ASL and approved deaf or hard-of-hearing interpreter options are available. | Check New Jersey source |
| New Mexico NM | Confirm before testing | The reviewed New Mexico licensing source does not publish one complete current noncommercial knowledge-test language list. | Ask the testing office whether audio, oral, or reader-assisted testing is available for your appointment. | Do not bring an interpreter into the test without approval; request language or disability assistance before the visit. | A translated handbook does not guarantee the live test is offered in the same language. | Check New Mexico source |
| New York NY | 20 published languages | English, Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Bosnian, Chinese, French, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Urdu, and Yiddish | The official page publishes the Class D language list but does not present a general audio menu on that page. | Confirm disability or language assistance with the office before the test if the published versions do not meet your need. | The Class D permit test includes a specific road-sign score requirement. | Check New York source |
| North Carolina NC | Multiple languages; list not published | NCDMV says knowledge tests are offered in different languages but does not publish the complete current list on its driver-test page. | Oral tests are available upon request. | Language and ASL interpreter services can be requested online or through the NCDMV call center. | The separate signs test requires identifying signs by color and shape and explaining their meaning. | Check North Carolina source |
| North Dakota ND | Confirm before testing | The reviewed North Dakota licensing source does not publish one complete current noncommercial knowledge-test language list. | Ask the testing office whether audio, oral, or reader-assisted testing is available for your appointment. | Do not bring an interpreter into the test without approval; request language or disability assistance before the visit. | A translated handbook does not guarantee the live test is offered in the same language. | Check North Dakota source |
| Ohio OH | 9 text/audio languages | Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Haitian Creole, Japanese, Russian, Somali, and Spanish; ASL is available in text and video | Every listed spoken-language version is available in text and audio. | A proctored test with an interpreter can be scheduled for another language. | Applicants must understand directions and read traffic signs printed in English. | Check Ohio source |
| Oklahoma OK | Confirm before testing | The reviewed Oklahoma licensing source does not publish one complete current noncommercial knowledge-test language list. | Ask the testing office whether audio, oral, or reader-assisted testing is available for your appointment. | Do not bring an interpreter into the test without approval; request language or disability assistance before the visit. | A translated handbook does not guarantee the live test is offered in the same language. | Check Oklahoma source |
| Oregon OR | 8 read-and-hear languages | Arabic, Chinese (Simplified Mandarin), English, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese | The Class C test can be both read and heard in all eight languages online and in DMV offices. | Contact DMV Customer Assistance for an ADA accommodation not covered by the standard audio feature. | The same Class C language menu is published for online and office testing. | Check Oregon source |
| Pennsylvania PA | 30 written/audio languages | Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Bosnian, Burmese, Cambodian, Dari, English, Farsi, French, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Mandinka, Nepali, Pashto, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, and Vietnamese | Every published language is available in written and audio format upon request at all Driver License Centers. | Voice tests are available on request; sign-language interpreter requests should be made in advance. | The Pennsylvania knowledge test covers traffic signs as well as state law and safe driving. | Check Pennsylvania source |
| Rhode Island RI | Confirm before testing | The reviewed Rhode Island licensing source does not publish one complete current noncommercial knowledge-test language list. | Ask the testing office whether audio, oral, or reader-assisted testing is available for your appointment. | Do not bring an interpreter into the test without approval; request language or disability assistance before the visit. | A translated handbook does not guarantee the live test is offered in the same language. | Check Rhode Island source |
| South Carolina SC | Confirm before testing | The reviewed South Carolina licensing source does not publish one complete current noncommercial knowledge-test language list. | Ask the testing office whether audio, oral, or reader-assisted testing is available for your appointment. | Do not bring an interpreter into the test without approval; request language or disability assistance before the visit. | A translated handbook does not guarantee the live test is offered in the same language. | Check South Carolina source |
| South Dakota SD | Confirm before testing | The reviewed South Dakota licensing source does not publish one complete current noncommercial knowledge-test language list. | Ask the testing office whether audio, oral, or reader-assisted testing is available for your appointment. | Do not bring an interpreter into the test without approval; request language or disability assistance before the visit. | A translated handbook does not guarantee the live test is offered in the same language. | Check South Dakota source |
| Tennessee TN | 5 published languages | English, Spanish, German, Korean, and Japanese | Oral tests are available by appointment at selected centers for applicants who cannot read or have a qualifying learning disability. | Interpreters are not allowed for ordinary driver-license testing; the department supplies a certified sign-language interpreter for a deaf applicant's oral-test route. | A translation dictionary without notes may be allowed, but electronic dictionaries and phones are prohibited. | Check Tennessee source |
| Texas TX | English and Spanish | English and Spanish | Texas DPS does not publish a general noncommercial audio-test menu on the language page. | A translator may help before or after the exam, but cannot assist during the knowledge test. | Every applicant must understand road signs written in English. | Check Texas source |
| Utah UT | Confirm before testing | The reviewed Utah licensing source does not publish one complete current noncommercial knowledge-test language list. | Ask the testing office whether audio, oral, or reader-assisted testing is available for your appointment. | Do not bring an interpreter into the test without approval; request language or disability assistance before the visit. | A translated handbook does not guarantee the live test is offered in the same language. | Check Utah source |
| Vermont VT | Confirm before testing | The reviewed Vermont licensing source does not publish one complete current noncommercial knowledge-test language list. | Ask the testing office whether audio, oral, or reader-assisted testing is available for your appointment. | Do not bring an interpreter into the test without approval; request language or disability assistance before the visit. | A translated handbook does not guarantee the live test is offered in the same language. | Check Vermont source |
| Virginia VA | 26 published options | English, ASL, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese/Mandarin (Simplified and Traditional), Dari, Farsi, French, German, Haitian Creole, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Kurdish, Mongolian, Nepali, Pashto, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Thai, Twi, Turkish, Urdu, and Vietnamese | ASL is a published exam option. | A customer-provided translator may be allowed when DMV does not offer the applicant's primary language. | Virginia's two-part exam requires the signs portion to be passed before the general-knowledge portion. | Check Virginia source |
| Washington WA | 12 published languages | English, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, Korean, Russian, Vietnamese, Japanese, Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Punjabi, Tagalog, and Ukrainian | Language availability can differ by testing school, so confirm the chosen location offers the version you need. | Washington publishes separate interpreter instructions for approved driver testing schools. | The official practice test is published in English and Spanish even though the real knowledge test has 12 languages. | Check Washington source |
| West Virginia WV | Confirm before testing | The reviewed West Virginia licensing source does not publish one complete current noncommercial knowledge-test language list. | Ask the testing office whether audio, oral, or reader-assisted testing is available for your appointment. | Do not bring an interpreter into the test without approval; request language or disability assistance before the visit. | A translated handbook does not guarantee the live test is offered in the same language. | Check West Virginia source |
| Wisconsin WI | 11 published options | English, ASL, Burmese, Chinese, Croatian, Hmong, Polish, Russian, Serbian, Somali, and Spanish | The official page distinguishes computer/written Class D testing from separate CDL restrictions. | Contact Wisconsin DMV before the visit for an accommodation not included in the published Class D menu. | The same list applies to the Class D knowledge and signs tests. | Check Wisconsin source |
| Wyoming WY | Confirm before testing | The reviewed Wyoming licensing source does not publish one complete current noncommercial knowledge-test language list. | Ask the testing office whether audio, oral, or reader-assisted testing is available for your appointment. | Do not bring an interpreter into the test without approval; request language or disability assistance before the visit. | A translated handbook does not guarantee the live test is offered in the same language. | Check Wyoming source |
No states match this filter.
Do not mix up the formats
Translated test, audio test, oral test, and interpreter are different
Translated written test
The official questions and answer choices appear in a language selected from the testing system.
Audio or oral test
A computer or authorized staff member reads the questions. Some states offer audio in every translated language; others offer it only in English.
Interpreter assistance
An approved interpreter translates under state rules. A friend or family member cannot automatically enter the test area or explain answers.
What about translated driver handbooks?
Use them to study, but verify the live exam language separately. Washington, for example, publishes its driver guide in more languages than its knowledge-test menu. California also separates the monitored knowledge test from renewal eLearning language options.
Real state differences
Four examples show why checking first matters
Publishes 30 languages in both written and audio format at every Driver License Center.
Publishes English and Spanish for the noncommercial knowledge test and does not allow a translator to assist during the exam.
Publishes nine text/audio languages, an ASL video option, and a proctored interpreter route for another language.
Publishes 13 written languages, oral English/Spanish tests, and a state-contract interpreter process that may require several weeks.
Before test day
How to confirm the right language without losing an appointment
- Identify the exact exam. Ask about the ordinary Class D/Class C learner-permit knowledge test, not the handbook, CDL test, motorcycle test, road test, or renewal course.
- Name the format you need. Say whether you need translated text, audio, an oral reader, ASL, or a foreign-language interpreter.
- Confirm the location or online route. A state may offer a language only at selected offices, approved schools, or a specific online vendor.
- Request accommodations early. Interpreter or ASL appointments can require advance approval and may not be available the same day.
- Study traffic-sign words in English too. Texas, Georgia, and Ohio explicitly warn that signs or basic traffic directions can remain in English.
Different license, different rule
Do not use this table for a CDL knowledge test
Commercial testing follows separate federal and state rules. A state that translates an ordinary permit test may still require English for CDL or hazardous-materials testing and may prohibit interpreters.
Written-test language FAQ
Common questions before choosing a test language
Can I take the DMV permit test in Spanish?
Spanish is widely offered, but not through every test type or location. Confirm the ordinary noncommercial knowledge-test route on your state’s official page before the appointment.
Can a family member translate the permit test for me?
Not automatically. Some states prohibit help during the exam, some require a state-approved interpreter, and others require the interpreter to be registered before test day.
Is an audio test the same as a translated test?
No. Audio describes how the questions are delivered; language describes which translation is used. Massachusetts offers audio in every listed Class D language, while other states offer audio only in selected languages.
If the driver handbook is translated, will the real test use that language?
Not necessarily. Handbook, practice-test, and live-exam language menus can differ. Treat the official testing page or a confirmed office answer as the final source.
Are road signs translated on the knowledge test?
Not always. Several states require applicants to understand signs or directional words in English even when the rules portion is translated.
Can I request ASL or a disability accommodation?
Yes, states provide ADA accommodation routes, but scheduling and documentation differ. Request ASL, a reader, extra time, or another accommodation before the visit rather than at the test station.
Research method
How this finder was checked
We reviewed state licensing pages, current driver manuals, testing pages, and language-access instructions. Exact lists are shown only where the official source publishes them. A “confirm” row means the reviewed public source did not publish one complete current list, not that English is the only option.
Keep preparing
Use the right state guide and test route
Language is one part of the appointment. Check your test format, documents, road signs, and state requirements next.
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